Page 30 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

“Damn, you send a mixed message.”

“You got my message and I appreciate your cooperation. I hope we get to do that again sometime. Just go a little slower so I can deal with my emotions. I’m trying to stop myself from crawling into your bed and wanting to stay. That would mean getting hurt badly when we part.”

He nodded his understanding, but he didn’t move away. He stood watching her as she pulled her blouse back into place and blushed as she fastened the middle button.

“That’ll do for now,” she said, picked up her backpack and walked with him across the hall into another large bedroom. While he switched on the lights, she dropped her things on a chair.

“Here you are. I hope you sleep well.” She turned to look at him and once again was caught in thickly lashed eyes that conveyed so much desire, she was riveted. All she could think about was kissing him again.

“Aw, hell,” he whispered as he grabbed her and kissed her passionately. Finally, he released her and stepped back. She opened her eyes to find him watching her.

“Marc—”

He put a finger to her lips to silence her. “It was a good night and we’ll do it again. And sometime, maybe sooner than you think, you won’t tell me to go away. But for now, good night.” After a few steps he turned back. “If you want anything, or if you want me, just call.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Thank you. Don’t lay awake waiting for my call,” she said.

* * *

He grinned and left, closing the door behind him. As he walked away, he wiped sweat off his brow. She made him hot enough to melt. He was surprised by the fun he’d had with her tonight and for the last hour they were there, all he could think about was coming back and kissing her and making love to her. But that wasn’t going to happen. Not tonight. But it wouldn’t be long, because she couldn’t resist kissing him. Meanwhile, he feared he’d get little sleep this night.

He’d had a fun evening—far more than he had expected. When he decided to go to the bar, he’d known the guys would be fun. He hadn’t expected much from his city-bred secretary, but he’d thought she might like to get out. How she had surprised him. She could dance and she was exciting, bouncing with eagerness, her big, blue eyes sparkling. He’d wanted to take her back to the hotel, to his bed, make love, hold and kiss her all night long. And the realization shocked him.

He had been numb to women since he lost Kathy. Well, Lara was bringing him out of mourning. He hadn’t wanted to dance, to kiss, to take anyone out since he had lost his wife—his real wife, whom he loved with all his heart. He felt as if he had been wrapped in grief for the past fourteen months, but tonight he’d been able to shake off some of the numbness. And he knew Kathy would want him to. She wouldn’t want him to go through life dulled by pain and grieving for his losses. She had been filled with a love of life and she would want him to live again. It was just surprising that it was Lara who had vanquished some of that terrible numbness in his life.

Still, he wasn’t ready to fall in love. He couldn’t, wouldn’t. And he didn’t want Lara to fall in love, either. He didn’t want to hurt her when they parted.

I’m trying to stop myself from crawling into bed and wanting to stay.

He recalled her words.

They had kissed more tonight than he had expected she would let him. At the same time, he also knew that wasn’t what she really wanted. She was guarding her heart and she had requested no sex—and he had agreed. He couldn’t go back on his promise. He needed to resist temptation and keep this relationship in the friend zone. Could he be a good guy and an honorable man, and keep his word?

* * *

Wednesday night Lara drove to Denton to go to class—an hour and a half each way. Despite the distance, Marc was sure she wouldn’t miss one class. She’d be a good doctor, that was certain. She was smart, determined, caring.

He missed her tonight. Alone in the house, he grabbed a beer and went outside to the balcony off his suite. He lay back on a chaise, looking at the stars and thinking.

There was much about Lara that reminded him of his mother. Her drive and determination, for example. And he appreciated it, because, like his mother, she had gone above and beyond for him, too, starting with suggesting they marry in his grandfather’s hospital room. Very few women would have done that and Marc would always be grateful to her.

And she’d bowled over his mother, too.

He thought of Pilar Medina and was grateful for her sacrifices, as well. Now that he knew Dirkson Callahan was his blood father, he could understand her struggling against terrible odds to make a success of her tiny business when she lost her job with the Callahans.

Dirkson Callahan—his father.

Marc took a long pull on the beer. He couldn’t believe that Dirkson was his biological father. He was a selfish man who seemed to love no one and nothing except himself, money and power.

Marc thought of his mother being pregnant, fifteen, on her own until she met his dad, no money, nothing. She didn’t want to tell her parents. She hadn’t wanted to rely on them because they were struggling to make a home and a life for themselves here. She’d met his real dad, the dad Marc loved and the dad who loved him. With John Medina they were a family with strong ties, and Dirkson Callahan was no part of it.

Marc took another swallow of beer, the bitter taste in his mouth not from the brew but from the mere thought of that horrible man.

He stared into the darkness. There was no reason to tell Lara, but a part of him wanted to share the news that still had him in knots. But he wouldn’t. When this marriage ended, they would go their separate ways and he wouldn’t see her again. And that wasn’t his baby she carried.

He thought of his own child, who had been cruelly taken from him. His mom had said he wouldn’t be able to walk away from Lara’s baby when it was born. Was that true? For a few months he would be that baby’s father. Would the child capture his heart?

And what about its mother?

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